China and Japan must promote friendly exchanges between the countries' young people in order to foster Chinese-Japanese relations as a whole, said Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong Wednesday.

Zeng made the remark in meeting with visiting Speaker Kono Yohei of Japan's House of Representatives. Sino-Japanese relationship has greatly improved through efforts by both sides, said Zeng.

Though difficulties and obstacles continue to exist, friendshipis the main current of the country's relationship, Zeng said.

Zeng said bilateral relations could be promoted as long as the two sides handle historical discrepancies and the Taiwan issue in the spirit of the three political documents signed between the twocountries, including the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement.

Kono Yohei said although some obstacles have been removed, the two countries should find good ways to solve the existing problemsas soon as possible and push forward bilateral relations.

Kono Yohei said that sound bilateral relations are important for both countries and the world at large, hoping the two countries could make more efforts for better relations.